ITALIA TRAGEDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17236, 16 April 1930, Page 15

ITALIA TRAGEDY

' COMRADES CLEARED EXPLORER ASKS FOR DEATH ROME, Fcf). 19. The report of the Commission of Inquiry into the disaster That bciell General Nobile’s Polar expedition m June, 1928, was published in full yesterday by the Ministry of Marine. New fads emerge concerning tlic rescue march across the ice of the two Italian naval men, Commanders Mariano and Zappi, and the young Swedish scientist, Malmgren. and the insinuations of cannibalism directed against the Italian officers after Malmgren’s disappearance. These insinuations are positively refuted.

Mariano and Zappi, m response to close, questioning, said that on the second clay of the march Malmgren found that bis right foot was Frostbitten. He. became hysterical and bad to be sool lice) with warm drink and massage. Later bo begged bis companions to kill him with a blow on the head. On the 12th day lie threw himself on the ground, saying: “1 cannot walk any more; 1 will stay here,” and once more be implored them to kill him. On their refusal bo asked them to dig a trench and lay him in it, which they did. They then went some dozen yards away, hoping that Malmgren would sum moil up enough strength to rejoin I hem. They turned and saw him standing up. leaning against a block of icc, and heard him shout to them to go on. Then be suddenly disappeared, and Zappi said he believed that be must have com mitted suicide.

Mariano and Zappi were later rescued by the Soviet ice-breaker Krassin.